1. Half of all Brits are unhappy with work-life balance, ONS saysTelegraph

The ONS found that just over half of all adults – 54 per cent – participate in sport at least once a month, however the activities they do vary greatly. One in seven people visit the gym, while one in ten get their exercise from cycling.
Meanwhile, one in nine Britons admitted that the only type of exercise they take is on an interactive computer console, such as a Nintendo Wii console.

High earners are up to three times more likely to be found in the gym than those on low incomes, says a survey. It found top earners spent on average almost three hours a week at fitness centres. But people on less than £20,000 a year were in the gym for barely an hour a week, says the online survey of 1,600 people by healthcare charity Nuffield Health.
Chris Jones, head of physiology at Nuffield Health, said: ‘Evidence tells us that keeping fit and healthy can benefit your performance at work, which may in turn impress the boss and help secure that much-wanted promotion.’

3. The science of falling in love: Finding the perfect partner onlineMetro

Researchers also discovered we are not attracted to people with the same sense of humour as our own, couch potatoes aren’t anyone’s ideal date and yoga is the most appealing form of exercise to potential partners. ‘What’s interesting is that we found any sporty activity, whether it’s marathon running or yoga, is appealing to men and women,’ adds Dr Gonzaga. ‘It’s a proxy for “taking care of myself” and suggests to a single, without them even having to see a photo, that person is healthy and in reasonable shape.’

7. Biggest Loser contestants to take on Michelle Obama in White House workout (no prizes for guessing who will do the most push-ups)Daily Mail

Following the discussion, the contestants, their families and the First Lady all work out together at the White House. The show will also see Mrs Obama challenge the contestants to see who can sign up the most participants for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. The six-week pledge-based programme is designed to get both adults and children more physically active and healthy.

8. Councils get £6m boost to help primary schools meet two-hours-per-week PE target for pupilsDaily Record

Councils are to get almost £6million to help meet a key target on physical education in schools. The Scottish Government said that by 2014 every primary school pupil should have at least two hours of PE a week and all students in the first four years of secondary school should have at least two periods of PE.

The elliptical (cross-trainer) machine was introduced into the fitness world in the Nineties as a treadmill and bike hybrid. It has a unique non-impact standing circular movement pattern, designed for the athlete who cannot run any more due to not being able efficiently to neutralise the impact the body is placed under when running.
But believe it or not, the cross trainer is completely comparable to a treadmill with regards to the intensity it places on the legs, heart and lungs — if used correctly.

Comparing myself month by month stunned me. My face was thinner and I could notice the difference in my waistline and arms. “I began looking forward to each month when the time came to take a picture and compare myself to the previous one.”
Nicola also joined women-only gym Curves and began working out twice a week.

Sebastian Coe, the former Olympic middle-distance runner who chairs LOCOG, the London 2012 organising committee, included as part of the original bid that organisers would use it to inspire two million people to take up sport and physical activity. That effort, begun in January, is organised under the umbrella of “Our Greatest Team” and is being spearheaded by Technogym, the Games’ official supplier of fitness equipment.

Do you find it difficult to motivate yourself to exercise? The desire for a bikini body or abs of steel not enough to get you down to the gym? In that case, there’s only one thing that is going to help – the threat of being eaten alive by a zombie horde. At least that’s the thinking behind the popular iPhone app Zombies, Run! (it’s coming to Android later this year).

Workplace stress will rise over the next five years according to eight out of ten workers across Europe, a major new survey has revealed. The survey of 35,000 people in 36 European countries found that 80 per cent of people believed that job-related stress would increase, while 52 per cent said it would increase “a lot”.

9. We danced with Len and Arlene: Your Personal Best winners enjoy an active day outSaga

Stella, Bob and the other participants, aged from 53 upwards and from all round the country, spent the morning talking with the various experts, discussing their health, how much activity they did and what they would like to do. “The experts gave us really good advice on how to gradually get back into a more active lifestyle by taking small steps at a time and enjoying whatever route this might take us”, says Stella.

10. Just one glass of wine a day linked to breast cancer: researchTelegraph

Women should stick to just one glass of wine a day and those with a family history of breast cancer should abstain altogether as researchers find even moderate alcohol consumption increases chances of developing the disease.

SkillsActive, the sector skills council for active leisure, learning and wellbeing, has received funding to continue its work delivering skills solutions for the sector. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills has appointed SkillsActive to deliver National Occupational Standards, Apprenticeships and Modern Apprenticeship frameworks, and qualification related products for three years from this April.

2. LA Fitness renegotiates £63.4m debt pile to work off some of its annual lossDaily Mail – This is Money

Latest figures for Britain’s third largest fitness group, seen by the Daily Mail, showed member numbers rose by 11,000 in the past nine months, taking the total to 200,000, while underlying sales for the busy January period rose 3 per cent.

Siobhan Hyland went from fat to fit after becoming hooked on pumping iron when she took up weight training in a bid to become healthier. She enjoyed the weight workouts so much that what started as a hobby quickly became something she took more seriously. As the fat fell off and her strength improved, she decided to compete in strong woman competitions – and has since won two national titles.

A study by biology boffin James Timmons, a professor at the University of Birmingham, found that not only are the benefits of aerobic exercise determined by our genetic make-up, but that some of us are programmed to respond poorly to working out.

8. Three golden girls who love to exercise reveal their fitness secretsDaily Record

Studies have shown that older people who exercise are less prone to falls and are more agile and less likely to suffer from heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Exercise can also cut the chance of dementia and depression.

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) raised concerns about the negative impact of children spending hours a day playing computer games that are inappropriate for their age. The warning came as a survey found more than a quarter of parents say their child gets less than half-an-hour of physical activity outside of school.

6. ‘Anti-gravity’ fitness is latest trend as new hi-tech machines help those pounds float away (at least until the end of the class)Daily Mail

Technologies borrowed from the space programme and the circus are helping fitness fans enjoy new ‘anti-gravity’ fitness routines. ‘Anti-gravity’ classes can help overused joints by reducing the weight on them – and allow even the obese to train without risk of injury.

Pierre Dukan, whose controversial celebrity diet is said to have helped the Duchess of Cambridge squeeze into her wedding dress, could be struck off the medical register over proposals to award extra marks to schoolchildren who lose weight, it has emerged.

The renewal between LIW and FIA is important for fitness professionals as it helps to further secure the staging of events such as LIW and FIA Flame – which are important to those in the industry for networking and education purposes.

Most people are eating far too much sugar, salt and fat, and moving around too little. The younger ones are binge-drinking, floating through the pubs and clubs on a sea of cheap spirits. The older ones are regularly consuming well above the advised limit, downing three or four large glasses of sauvignon to “relax” once the children or grandchildren are in bed. A quarter of all the people in England are now officially obese, rather than simply overweight.

Get yourself a gym membership; it’s like a whole new world. A lot of gyms open for a long time too, so you can go in the morning before work or even after dinner. You can also just try and incorporate fitness into your routine, like walking to the shops or the kids to their school.

4. Train Like a Tribute: New York gym jumps on Hunger Games bandwagon with themed workout classDaily Mail

A New York gym is the latest business to cash in on the popularity of the hit trilogy, The Hunger Games. In a fitting tribute to the story’s well-trained protagonists, an uptown branch of The New York Sports Club has created what it calls its ‘Train Like a Tribute’ workout.

6. Five BILLION fewer calories a day: Food firms pledge to make products healthier to help curb obesityMirror

Food firms are to limit the calories in bars of chocolate and fizzy drinks as Britain battles an obesity crisis. They have promised the Government they will make their products healthier as part of a “Responsibility Deal” in which five billion calories will be cut from the nation’s diet.

1. One day left to nominate a colleague for the Future of Flame Award 2012FIA

There is just one day left to nominate a colleague for the prestigious Future of Flame Award.

This award recognises the industry’s very best on an individual level; rewarding a person who has shown remarkable dedication and commitment to the fitness industry.
The Future of Flame Award is one of five outstanding achievement categories in this year’s FIA & Matrix Flame Awards.

David Stalker, CEO, FIA said: “These award categories recognise the leaders of our industry, at all levels, celebrating and rewarding those who make a profound contribution.

“If there is someone you know who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to show their dedication to the fitness industry, then make sure that you nominate them for the Future of Flame Award.”

How to nominate someone: Industry members are invited to nominate their colleagues with a brief description (400 words max) on why their nominee should win the award. Entry is free. Nominations should be emailed to flame@fia.org.uk by 23rd March 2012 and online voting will close beginning of June 2012.

2. £50 million to improve your workforceFIAOne week left to complete the FIA’s survey to help us support your funding applications

A new Employer Ownership Fund has been launched to give employers direct access to public investment to improve the skills and productivity of the UK workforce.

The FIA and SkillsActive can support employers or clusters of employers to submit applications for the fund. To fully understand how we can support employers and their priorities for the fund, we are asking employers to answer a short online survey by 28th March.

3. Hit the streets: No excuses. The Grit Doctor Ruth Field says run, even if you hate itEvening Standard

The months of being able to hide our flab under warm knits are finally behind us. But while this brings relief to a fit few, it is more likely to bring horror to many. Mainly those who have been hibernating on the sofa since last November.

The Future of Music Festival at Oliver’s Mount is hoping to be a laid back, affordable, family friendly music festival

It will begin from the 16th June 2012 and will run over 2 days, from 12 noon to midnight on the Saturday and 11am to 8pm on the Sunday. There will on-site camping if you wish, but we recommend staying at the Crown Spa Hotel and enjoying a relaxing night after the days events. The acts will consist of the local bands and artists, many from the local region. This music festival is what fans have been waiting for, hopefully if it proves popular it will expand to become even more sucessful next year.

Music will consist of acoustic, blues, rock, pop and folk music. While enjoying the music you can enjoy the surrounded areas of the countryside as well as breathtaking views over Scarborough.

Tickets are £20 for the weekend if bought in advance or £25 on the gate.

Sandsend Road (from junction with Love Lane), Upgang Lane, Chubb Hill, Bagdale, Langborne Road to Whitby Railway Station where the Olympic Flame will then be carried on a North Yorkshire Moors Railway train to Pickering

12.28pm – Scarborough

Columbus Ravine (from junction with Victoria Park Avenue), Peasholm Gap, to North Bay Promenade (junction with Open Air Theatre back access road)

Scarborough Road (A1038), passing Baylegate on the left and South Back Lane on the right, before heading along St John’s Street, with the High School for Girls on the right and Queensgate on the left.

The route then goes on to Quay Road, passing St John’s Avenue on the right, the torchbearer will then turn right on Station Avenue and right again onto Hilderthorpe Road before bearing left onto A165 Kingsgate.

The route will then go down Kingsgate, passing George Street and Shaftesbury Road on the right and Kingston Road on the left before leaving the Yorkshire Coast at around 3.22pm.

The Crown Spa Hotel has been shortlisted for the Green Tourism Business Scheme Goldstar Awards 2012. The shortlist is compiled from the highest scoring Gold graded businesses from 2011 representing the greenest 2% of the total 2400 Green Tourism Business Scheme membership. The awards will be announced at a ceremony to be held in Edinburgh on Friday 25th May.

The government has admitted to mistakes in delivering a legacy for grassroots sport from the London 2012 Olympics but will on Tuesday outline 10 areas it will claim show serious progress is now being made.

There has now been a major rethink about how these weekly targets, which many people consider unattainable, are set by the Government. The aim is still the same- at least 150 minutes of moderate activity – but instead of scoring activity in a few 30-minute bursts experts say we will get the same benefits by doing shorter sessions of at least 10 minutes at a time.

6. How eating less and exercising more in your 20s will lead to a healthier 40s (no surprises there)Daily Mail

‘In this study, even people with a family history of heart problems were able to have a low cardiovascular disease risk profile if they started living a healthy lifestyle when they were young.
‘This supports the notion that lifestyle may play a more prominent role than genetics.’